Grape Man of Texas ― Thomas Volney Munson and the Origins of American Viticulture

Grape Man of Texas is the first biography of Thomas Volney Munson (1843-1913), the internationally recognized horticulturist who developed over 300 new varieties of grapes, some of which are still grown today on almost every continent. He is perhaps best known for his work in fighting the phylloxera epidemic of the late nineteenth century, which nearly destroyed the world’s vineyards. His solution—grafting vinifera onto certain resistant native rootstocks from Texas—earned him the Chevalier du Merite Agricole in the French Legion of Honor and numerous accolades. This second edition introduces new insights into the phylloxera period, Munson’s many papers and publications, and his far-sighted grasp of the needs of twentieth century agriculture and transportation. It details the continuing influence of both his research and his hybrid grapes on modern viticulture and new varieties of vitis that have been bred from them around the world.

Dr. Roy E. Renfro, Jr. is the Executive Director of the T.V. Munson Viticulture and Enology Center, which he helped found. He is the author of six books and booklets as well as numerous scientific articles and was editor of theT.V. Munson Memorial Vineyard Report. Renfro is a founder of the T.V. Munson Memorial Vineyard, GCC's Viticulture and Enology degree program, Denison-Cognac Sister City Program, Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association, and Texas Association of Community College Foundations. For his extensive work on T.V. Munson, he has twice been awarded the French Commandeur d'Honneur.